In honor of the CDC signing off on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5-11 this week, we wanted to give a nod to all of the pharmacists working around-the-clock to administer them across the country. Pharmacists work so hard and have been stretched thin even before 2020 making the demand high for those looking to enter the field. Here are 5 highly-acclaimed pharmacy schools/pharmacology programs in the US for 2021: 

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy is currently ranked the #1 School of Pharmacy and #3 in Best Global Universities in Pharmacology & Toxicology by U.S. News & World Report. They impressively rank #2 among colleges/programs participating with NIH research funding. Opening its doors in 1897, it was the first college pharmacy program of its kind in NC. The school’s alumni program boasts that of the roughly 6,000 graduates, more than half decided to remain in NC and serve the state’s healthcare needs. 

University of California, San Diego

Known as the Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC San Diego’s program offers degrees ranging from a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) to Ph.D programs in “Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development.” The University operates out of a 110,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility built in 2006 and has roughly 280 active students.

University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy’s mission is to “Improve health through innovative education, pioneering research, and interdisciplinary practice development that attends to the diverse needs of the people of Minnesota and the world.” The school recognizes the shift in what is asked of today’s pharmacists and how their roles have gone beyond filling prescriptions and tailored their programs reflecting that change. Programs range from PharmD to Doctoral Graduate. They also offer residency programs for post-graduate students.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan’s College of Pharmacy offers programs for students looking to join the field as well as for those seeking to advance their knowledge and skill set from PharmD to Ph.D and residencies. The program was traditionally established in 1876 after initially being taught as a component of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and became the first of its kind in a state university. According to their website, “Our well-earned reputation for academic and research excellence makes Michigan’s PharmD and PhD programs among the most sought out in the U.S. Contributing to our standing is our enviable record of faculty and alumni success. No college of pharmacy has had — or continues to have — a greater positive impact on the world than has the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.”

University of Washington

The University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy focuses its programs on “mission cornerstones” that include: Instructional, Research & Discovery, and Service. They believe those alone are what shape pharmacy leaders. They boast that 69% of their students have job placement by the time of graduation and 100% of PharmD student applicants receive scholarships. Additionally, they offer Master’s and Ph.D programs and have been steadily climbing the ranks for top pharmacy schools in the nation. According to their website, “At the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, we are committed to educating the next generation of leaders in pharmacy, pharmaceutical research and health care – while seeking to ensure the safe, rational and cost-effective use of medicines.”

These are just a small sampling of the pharmacy programs across the country. We continue to be grateful for the work pharmacists do daily -- fully aimed at keeping us healthy and safe. Are you a pharmacist or currently in pharmacy school? Let us know in the comments (and thank you)!

Cover photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels